A wire crate is the right choice for most dogs in most situations. It’s the most versatile, the most breathable, and the most commonly recommended by trainers and veterinary behaviorists for everyday crate training. Plastic crates win if you’re flying with your dog or have an anxious dog who calms down in dark, enclosed spaces. Soft crates are for travel with well-behaved adult dogs only — and they won’t survive a single afternoon with a determined chewer.
In Short: Wire crates are the default. They work for puppies, adults, large breeds, small breeds, and pretty much every living situation. Plastic crates are your pick for airline travel or dogs who prefer a cave-like den. Soft crates are convenient for road trips and hotel stays, but only if your dog isn’t going to test the fabric. When in doubt, go wire.
Head-to-Head: Wire vs Plastic vs Soft Crates
| Feature | Wire Crate | Plastic Crate | Soft Crate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventilation | Excellent — open on all sides | Moderate — vents on sides only | Good — mesh panels |
| Portability | Heavy but foldable | Bulky, doesn’t collapse | Lightweight, folds flat |
| Durability | High — holds up to strong dogs | High — rigid plastic shell | Low — fabric and zippers |
| Airline approved | No | Yes (most meet IATA standards) | No |
| Puppy safe | Yes (use a divider panel) | Yes | No — puppies will chew through |
| Visibility | Full 360-degree view | Limited — mostly enclosed | Good through mesh panels |
| Foldable | Yes — most fold flat | No — two-piece shell | Yes — most fold into a carrying case |
| Price range | $30–$120 | $40–$150 | $30–$80 |
That table gives you the quick version. But the real answer depends on your specific dog, your living situation, and what you’re actually using the crate for. So let’s break each one down.
Wire Crates: The One Most Dogs Should Have
Wire crates are the Toyota Camry of dog crates. They’re not exciting. Nobody brags about owning one. But they do the job reliably, they last for years, and there’s a reason every trainer, shelter worker, and vet clinic has a stack of them.
What wire crates get right
Airflow is unmatched. The open-wire design means air circulates from every direction. This matters more than people think, especially for breeds that run hot. A Labrador Retriever in a plastic crate during a July afternoon is going to be a lot less comfortable than that same dog in a wire crate. Double-coated breeds like German Shepherds benefit from this too.
The divider panel is a huge deal for puppies. Most wire crates (including the MidWest iCrate) ship with a movable divider that lets you section off the crate as your puppy grows. This is how you properly crate train — the crate should be just big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down. Too much space and they’ll pee in one corner and sleep in another, which defeats the entire housetraining purpose. With a divider, you buy one crate and adjust it as they grow from 10 pounds to 70.
You can see your dog, and your dog can see you. Wire crates offer complete visibility in every direction. For dogs who get anxious when they can’t see their owner, this matters. You can also drape a blanket over a wire crate to mimic the enclosed feeling of a plastic crate — but you can’t do the reverse. Wire gives you options.
They fold flat. When you’re not using the crate — or when you need to move it — most wire crates collapse into a flat panel that slides behind a couch or into a closet. Try that with a plastic crate.
Where wire crates fall short
They’re noisy. A dog shifting around in a wire crate at 3 AM sounds like someone dropped a shopping cart down a staircase. If your bedroom is close to the crate, you’ll hear every movement. Some dogs also rattle the door with their nose or paw, and that metallic clanking gets old fast.
Wire crates are also heavier than soft crates. A 42-inch wire crate (the size you’d need for a Goldendoodle or Lab) weighs around 25-30 lbs. Not backbreaking, but you’re not casually tossing it in the car for a weekend trip.
And they’re not airline approved. You cannot check a wire crate as cargo on any major airline. If you’re flying with your dog, wire is off the table entirely.
Best situations for a wire crate
- Everyday crate training at home
- Puppies of any size (with the divider)
- Dogs who overheat easily or have thick coats
- Multi-dog households where you need to stack crates
- Anyone who wants one crate that works for everything
Our wire crate pick
The MidWest iCrate Double Door has been our top recommendation for years, and nothing has come along to dethrone it. Two doors (front and side), a divider panel included, folds flat, and prices start around $35 for a small size and top out around $75 for the 48-inch model. It’s available in sizes from 18 inches to 48 inches. We’ve had ours for over two years and the latches still hold firm. The powder-coated finish has some scuffs, but structurally it’s solid.
For our full breakdown with more wire crate options, check out our best dog crate roundup.
Plastic Crates: The One for Flying and Den-Seekers
Plastic crates (sometimes called airline kennels or travel kennels) look like little dog igloos with a wire door bolted to the front. They’re the type you see at airports and in vet offices. They exist for a specific set of reasons, and if your situation matches those reasons, they’re the better choice over wire.
What plastic crates get right
They meet airline cargo requirements. If you need to fly with a dog in the cabin’s cargo hold, you need an IATA-compliant hard-shell crate. That means a plastic kennel. Most airlines require specific features: rigid walls, a secure latch, ventilation on at least three sides, and “Live Animal” sticker space. The Petmate Sky Kennel meets these standards and is the most widely accepted crate by U.S. airlines.
The enclosed design calms anxious dogs. Some dogs — especially dogs with noise anxiety or rescue dogs who are still adjusting — do better in a dark, enclosed space. A plastic crate’s solid walls block visual stimuli and muffle sound more than a wire crate does. Think of it like the difference between sleeping in a tent versus sleeping on a park bench. Some dogs genuinely prefer the tent. French Bulldogs, who tend to be anxious about environmental changes, often settle faster in plastic crates.
They’re warmer in cold environments. The solid walls retain body heat, which makes plastic crates a better choice for dogs in cold garages, drafty rooms, or during winter camping trips. A small dog in a wire crate in a 55-degree garage is going to feel that cold air from every side. A plastic crate at least blocks the drafts.
Where plastic crates fall short
Ventilation is limited. Air enters through slotted vents on the sides and the wire door up front. On a warm day, the interior of a plastic crate heats up faster than a wire crate. For brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs that already struggle to regulate temperature), this can become a real concern.
They don’t collapse. A plastic kennel is two halves bolted together, and while you can unbolt them and nest the halves, it’s still a big, awkward piece of equipment to store. You’re not folding this thing flat and sliding it behind a couch.
No divider panel option means they’re not ideal for growing puppies. You’d need to buy a small crate for puppyhood and then upgrade to a larger one, which doubles your cost.
And they block your view of the dog. If you like being able to glance at the crate and check on your dog, plastic makes that harder. You’re mostly looking at a solid shell with a wire front.
Best situations for a plastic crate
- Air travel (cargo hold — this is non-negotiable for most airlines)
- Dogs with noise sensitivity or visual anxiety
- Cold climates or drafty rooms
- Dogs who naturally seek out dark, enclosed sleeping spots
- Car travel (plastic crates actually hold their structure better in a collision than wire)
Our plastic crate pick
The Petmate Sky Kennel is the standard for airline travel and has been for years. It meets IATA requirements, has ventilation openings on four sides, comes with “Live Animal” stickers and ID clips, and the shell is thick enough to handle baggage handler treatment. Sizes range from small (up to 15 lbs) to giant (up to 125 lbs). Expect to pay between $50 and $140 depending on size.
One note on airline travel: always check your specific airline’s crate requirements before buying. Some airlines have stricter rules than the IATA minimums, and requirements can change with little notice. Delta, United, and American all have slightly different specifications.
Soft Crates: The One for Travel (With a Huge Asterisk)
Soft crates are the lightest, most portable option. They’re made of fabric stretched over a collapsible frame, usually with mesh panels for ventilation and zippered doors. They fold down into a compact carrying case. They’re great for very specific situations and a terrible idea for others.
Let us be blunt: if your dog is a chewer, a scratcher, a pacer, or a puppy, do not buy a soft crate. A motivated dog can rip through the mesh or fabric walls of a soft crate in under a minute. We’ve seen it happen. These crates have zero structural resistance against a dog who wants out. They exist only for dogs who are already crate-trained and calm inside a crate.
What soft crates get right
Weight and portability are unbeatable. A soft crate that fits a 60 lb dog might weigh 8 lbs. You can carry it with one hand. It folds into a bag that fits in your trunk without rearranging everything. For camping trips, hotel stays, visiting relatives, or agility trials, nothing beats a soft crate for convenience.
Setup takes seconds. Most pop open like a camping tent. No assembly, no bolts, no fighting with a folding mechanism. You pull it out of the bag and it’s ready.
They’re quieter than wire. No metallic clanking. No rattling door. A dog moving around in a soft crate barely makes a sound. If nighttime noise from a wire crate is driving you insane, a soft crate in the bedroom is noticeably more peaceful.
Multiple doors. Many soft crates — including the EliteField model we recommend — have three doors (top, front, and side). This gives you flexibility in tight spaces. Hotel room where the only open floor space is a corner? Use the side door.
Where soft crates fall short
Durability is the fatal flaw. The fabric panels, mesh windows, and zipper closures are not built to withstand any real force from inside. A puppy teething on the mesh will put a hole in it within days. A dog with separation anxiety will claw through the side panel. A German Shepherd who decides they want out is going to be out in about 45 seconds. We’ve seen dogs push their nose through zippers that weren’t locked, unzip the door, and stroll away. We’d probably find that impressive if it weren’t so inconvenient.
They’re also impossible to clean properly. Fabric absorbs odors. If your dog has an accident inside a soft crate, you’re dealing with it for a while. Wire crates you can hose down. Plastic crates you can wipe out. Soft crates? You’re spot-cleaning and hoping for the best.
No divider panel means they’re not suitable for puppies — even well-behaved ones. And no airline approves soft crates for cargo hold travel.
Best situations for a soft crate
- Road trips with an already-crate-trained adult dog
- Hotel rooms and visiting family
- Camping (with a calm dog)
- Dog shows and agility trials
- Secondary crate for travel when you already have a wire crate at home
- Small, well-mannered breeds that aren’t destructive
Our soft crate pick
The EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate offers good build quality for the price (around $35-$55 depending on size), comes in a wide range of sizes from 20 inches to 42 inches, and has three doors for flexible placement. The steel tube frame holds its shape well, and the 600D fabric is thicker than most budget soft crates. That said, “thicker than most” still means fabric. Winston tore a corner of a similar soft crate once just by stepping on the edge wrong — and he wasn’t even trying to escape. These things have limits.
Which One Should You Get?
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
Start here: Is your dog flying in cargo?
- Yes → Plastic crate (Petmate Sky Kennel). This isn’t optional. Airlines require it.
- No → Keep reading.
Is your dog a puppy?
- Yes → Wire crate with a divider panel. Every time. No exceptions.
- No → Keep reading.
Is your dog fully crate-trained and calm inside a crate?
- No → Wire crate. You need the structure.
- Yes → What are you using it for?
What are you using the crate for?
- Everyday home use → Wire crate.
- Travel and on-the-go → Soft crate (as a second crate — keep the wire at home).
- Anxious dog who seeks out dark spaces → Plastic crate, or a wire crate with a blanket draped over it.
Does your dog chew, dig, or scratch when stressed?
- Yes → Absolutely not a soft crate. Wire or plastic only.
Most people reading this should buy a wire crate. It does the most things well. If you travel frequently with your dog, buy a soft crate as a second option for the road. If you’re flying, you need a plastic crate regardless of what else you own.
For new dog owners putting together their gear list, we cover all the basics — crate included — in our new dog owner checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a wire crate for airline travel?
No. Major airlines do not accept wire crates for cargo hold travel. Airlines require hard-shell plastic kennels that meet IATA (International Air Transport Association) standards. The crate must have rigid walls, secure latches, ventilation on multiple sides, and enough room for the dog to stand and turn around. The Petmate Sky Kennel is one of the most widely accepted plastic crates across U.S. airlines. Some airlines allow small soft-sided carriers in the cabin (under the seat), but that’s a different category from cargo crates entirely.
What type of crate is best for puppies?
A wire crate with a divider panel is the best crate type for puppies. The divider lets you adjust the interior size as your puppy grows, which is critical for housetraining — puppies avoid soiling a space that feels like their den, but only if the space is small enough that they can’t designate a bathroom corner. The MidWest iCrate includes a free divider panel, which saves you from buying multiple crates as your puppy grows from 12 pounds to their adult weight. Soft crates are not safe for puppies because they’ll chew through the fabric, and plastic crates lack the adjustable divider feature.
Is a plastic crate better for anxious dogs?
Plastic crates can help dogs with certain types of anxiety, particularly noise sensitivity and visual overstimulation. The solid walls reduce how much a dog can see and hear, creating a den-like environment that some dogs find calming. However, a wire crate with a blanket or crate cover draped over it achieves a similar effect while giving you the flexibility to remove the cover when you don’t need it. If your dog’s anxiety is severe, the crate type matters less than working with a veterinary behaviorist on a proper behavior modification plan.
How long do soft crates last?
With a well-behaved, crate-trained adult dog, a quality soft crate like the EliteField 3-Door can last 2-3 years of regular use. The most common failure points are zippers (which wear out or get jammed) and mesh panels (which develop small tears over time). Dogs who paw at the door or lean heavily against the sides will shorten that lifespan significantly. If you’re using a soft crate daily as your primary crate, expect to replace it sooner. Most people get the best lifespan out of soft crates by using them as a travel-only secondary crate while keeping a wire crate as the everyday option at home.
Can you put a crate cover on a wire crate to make it feel like a plastic crate?
Yes, and this is actually one of the best arguments for buying a wire crate as your default. A fitted crate cover (or even just a blanket) over a wire crate blocks light and visual stimulation, giving your dog that enclosed den feeling similar to a plastic crate. The difference is you can remove the cover when you don’t need it — during hot weather, when your dog wants to see you, or when airflow matters. You can’t add ventilation to a plastic crate the same way. Crate covers run about $15-$30 and are sized to fit standard wire crate dimensions. Just make sure your dog doesn’t pull the cover through the wire and chew on it.